Petrograd (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

In 1916, just as the first World War was heating up, Germany was fighting on two fronts. The fledgling English and French in the West and the disgruntled and cold Russians to the East. Alexander Protopopov meets with German dignitaries in Stockholm before returning to Russia and immediately being promoted to the role of Minister of Interior. Czar Nicolas is away from the royal Palace in Petrograd (formerly St. Petersburg but a few years away from being renamed Stalingrad), disastrously supervising the Russian army against Imperial German forces. In his stead is wife Alexandra who acts as the de facto ruler of Russia. 

Alexandra has a special advisor, the mysterious monk Rasputin. Having healed son Alexei of life threatening maladies, Alexandra has given the religious leader carte blanche to conduct affairs both professionally and personally; to equal levels of depravity. The nation is in the midst of tremendous upheaval as Russians displaced from the fighting have swarmed into the larger cities, making it impossible to feed, house and cloth these refugees in the light of the coming frigid Winter. 

The Communist party is secretly working towards overthrowing the royal family and are effectively using the crisis in Petrograd to gain public support. Though the Russian secret police have waged war against the uprising, they're losing ground faster than they can make it up.

So what does all this have to do with the promotion of Protopopov? Alexandra has been a vocal opponent to the war. Members of the British intelligence community operating in Petrograd believe that Protopopov's new role after the secret meeting with the Germans means that Russia has struck a deal with Germany and will soon pull out of the war. Should this happen, Germany no longer has to divide its forces and can focus their full might against the British and French alliance. 

Should this occur, Germany, who's already looking like the victor will most surely win the war. For the British, a Russian/German peace is unacceptable. The head of the British intelligence bureau hopes to pursue the Russian secret police designed to combat political terrorism, the Okhrana, of the meeting in Stockholm and overthrow Protopopov. However, the Okhrana believes that the proposed peace is all rumor and refuses to act on the tip further.

Here's where historic fact turns into historical fiction. Writer Philip Gelatt proposes that after the secret police rebuffed British intelligence, a pair of agents enacted a clandestine plan B. Working with jaded members of the Russian royal family, Gelatt continues this graphic novel with the conspiracy theory that the British government was somehow behind the assassination of Rasputin. If Protopopov isn't behind Russia's plan to cease hostilities on the Eastern Front, then it's the depraved Mad Monk who's giving Alexandra motivation to a peace with Germany.

Other than the influence of special agent Cleary being involved in the plotting and execution of the plot against Rasputin, this story is fairly accurate. Or is it completely accurate???

Ironically, after Rasputin is found murdered, Czar Nicolas pulls a number of his troops off the battle lines and sends them to Petrograd to reinforce the Okhrana who are searching desperately for the culprits. There had already been dissension in the ranks of the Russian army, unhappy with how the Czar was making a mess of things, so when they were greeted with open arms by the Communists who saw the death of Rasputin as an opportunity to revolution, the soldiers joined the cause of Revolution! It's by winning over the Russian army that causes the Romanov family to flee the palace and ultimately assassinated. So ultimately, if the British were behind the plot, their 'preventative actions ' actually caused Russia to exit the war!

It's interesting to ponder what might have happened if everyone left well enough alone and let Rasputin live. Would Russia have remained in the war? Would the United States have remained out of the conflict having to not save England and France because of the revolution in Russia? Would the Czar and his family have survived? Without the troops, would the Okhrana have been able to quash the Communists, who at this point were acting in secret and without the important support of the Russian military? 

This 2011 graphic novel is definitely a compelling read crafted in that very popular 'alternative history' genre- only in comic book form! It makes you think in more ways than one. While there's no argument who Rasputin is in this book, artist Tyler Crook renders several characters who frankly look the same. With not very good introductions to those characters, it takes a while to figure out who is who and that sort of recognition is important in a work about secret agents and double agents working all sides in a major conspiracy.

Petrograd was first published in 2011 in hardback. This paperback edition was published in 2023 and features both an all-new and extremely important afterward full of background information by historian David R. Stone.

Completing this review completes Task #31 (Set in a State or Country You've Never Visited) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Beverly Hillbillies #18

Getting a comic book adaptation of The Beverly Hillbillies has been on my wish list for a while. Finally over the winter break I was able to get a decent copy for a reasonable price. Yet somehow, this comic ended up in my REVIEW pile . It wasn't until yesterday that I realized I hadn't read this yet.

There are 4 stories in this issue. 3 star the Beverly Hillbillies. Story #1 has Granny feeling like she's got to get a job despite living in a mansion with all expenses paid. She takes a job as an ice cream man, thinking the work will be a piece of cake. However in true sitcom fashion, everything goes wrong on her first day.

Tale #2 has Jed hiring a pop art house decorator on the recommendation of Mrs. Drysdale. Of course, Granny hates the artist's aesthetic and will do everything in her power to keep her house the way it is.

The last Clampett story has Jethro head over heels in love with a department store sales clerk when he mistakes her salesmanship as romance.

The fourth and final story is about a character called 'The Shutterbug'. I've never heard of him. But I've found listings for this guy in a couple other Dell books. He's apparently this cub reporter who is sent on photo assignments, only to muck them up. In this story, Shutterbug is allowed to cover his first pro baseball game to disastrous effect.

The one page prose story, required for certain postage requirements, is about a truck driver that has a mishap while transporting a shipment of live chickens. I've read this story before. I wouldn't be surprised if Dell had a standard prose yarn that would be inserted into their entire line of books for the month. 

Unlike the Car 54, Where Are You? books that had great renderings of the stars of the show - but were swiped over and over, there's no sort of repetition in this book. None of the faces look like they were taken from promotional stills. But the characters look like who they are supposed to represent. Maybe that's because all 4 of the Clampetts wore costumes that never really changed. When Granny is acting as the ice cream seller in this book, you can tell it's her, not because she looks like Irene Ryan, but because the artist has Granny still wearing her patchwork dress underneath her uniform.

Mrs. Drysdale looks like a generic person. Not Harriet MacGibbon. I don't know who's escorting her to the Clampetts big unveiling of their newly redecorated mansion. But it sure isn't investment banker Mr. Drysdale. The guy on her arm doesn't even have a mustache! 

And where's Ms. Hathaway, Drysdale s ever faithful assistant? Surely, she would have been invited to that fete! If only to occupy the yokels when they got on Drydale's nerves.

The stories were entertaining. While formulaic, they're not rocket science. I've wanted an issue of the series for a long time and this was worth the wait. A great addition for a fan of classic TV like myself. I just don't see the average fan of comics seeking books like this anymore and that might be why I got a good deal on it.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Frontline Combat #9 (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

From the letter from the Editor placed on the inside cover, this was to be the first of 7 issues devoted to the American Civil War. Readers had requested the conflict of 1861-1865 be included in EC's war torn title. However, Harvey Kurtzman and William Gaines felt that a single issue just wasn't enough space to adequately devoted to this important period in American history.

Frontline Combat was a sister series to the very macho Two-Fisted Tales, which originally focused on adventure stories. The book started off well, but with the end of the Korean War, EC saw a decline in sales. Ultimately, Frontline Combat's last issue would be #15. 

This issue would focus on the start of the war. There are 4 segments, all penned by Kurtzman. The first chronicles the life of Abraham Lincoln from childhood to his inauguration as the 16th President of the United States. Readers then experience the first shot of the Civil War with the siege of Fort Sumter. The action heads West to the neutral state of Missouri as both Confederate loyalists and Union soldiers fight over possession of Camp Jackson. Lastly, we witness Union overconfidence turn the battle of Bull Run/Manassas into the Rebels first major victory of the early days of the war. 

While this issue highlights the constitutional crisis of the legality of the succeeding Southern States, slavery is never overtly addressed in this book as the main cause of the Civil War. Yet in true EC twist fashion, the narrator of the opening segment on Lincoln is revealed on the last page as being a black man who lives in Charleston, South Carolina on the eve of the Fort Sumter blockade. 

The artists featured in this issue are Jack Davis, John Severin, and Wally Wood. Cover art by Harvey Kurtzman. The one-page prose story was replaced with excepts of the inaugural address of Abraham Lincoln, featured in the opener titled 'Abe Lincoln!'

Though the full 7 parts of the Civil War series never came about, Two-Fisted Tales did devote a pair of issues to the Civil War before being cancelled in 1955 at issue #35. For those who might wish to follow up on learning more on the Civil War in comics and graphic novel form, check out Battle Lines: A Graphic History of the Civil War by Ari Kelman and Jonathan Fetter-Vorm,  Marvel's 4-issue Epic Battles of the Civil War and the 'Big Bad Ironclad!' and 'The Underground Abductor' entries in the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales series for all-ages readers.

Completing this review completes Task #21 (Set in the 1800s) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Classics Illustrated: A Cultural History, 2nd Edition by William B. Jones, Jr. (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

It started years ago with a 'good story'. #129 'Davy Crockett'. Thus began a lifelong devotion to Classics Illustrated by author William B. Jones, Jr.

Jump to 1992. An abortive account of Bill Clinton's rise to the White House leads Jones into a bout of writers block. His editor instructs the writer to craft a list of ideas; one of which is a historic account of Albert Kanter and his dream of creating a line of comic books that inspire countless generations to further explore the classics of world literature. 

After a 1993 phone interview with former Classics Illustrated artist Rudy Palais, Jones began a near decade of research, interviewing artists, writers, editors and fans to craft an extensive history of the line. Starting as Classic Comics as an imprint of Elliot Publishing in 1941, Kanter took the series private with the creation of the Gilberton Company, Inc. the following year. As comic books came under fire as the leading source of juvenile delinquency by 'experts' such as Dr. Wertham, Kanter made a brilliant attempt to distance his volumes from the industry by rebranding them as Classics Illustrated.

While Kanter's decision saved Classics Illustrated through the tumultuous 1950s, the move would ultimately halt production of new works at the beginning of the hopeful 1960s. The United States Postal Service ruled that Gilberton was publishing books, not periodicals. This decision would remove the much needed second class parcel classification essential for direct sales subscriptions. The company appealed and was overruled resulting in Gilberton ceasing publication of all-new works in 1962. 

For another decade, Classic Illustrated would exist only in reprint form. Kanter would update the existing books with new scripts and art. Its most popular and iconic update were the painted covers. In 1967, the line was sold to Frawley Corporation who unfortunately didn't understand how to properly publish comics. The original Classic Illustrated would cease entirely 4 years later. Over the next 3 decades, various companies would attempt to revitalize the brand. But none of them could ever match the success of Gilberton.

Jones second edition would expand upon the writers and authors that graced the Gilberton doors. Not a fan of the witch hunt of the Senate hearings that resulted in the creation of the Comics Code, Albert Kanter became a lifeline to a number of EC Comics staff including Joe Orlando and 'Ghastly' Graham Ingels. Even a pre-coronated Jack Kirby worked for a time on Classics Illustrated as did cover painting genius George Evans and comics strip maestro Al Williamson. 

The updated volume would also research Canadian Jack Lake's digital reproductions of both the main series and its sister publication Classics Illustrated Junior. Jim Salicrup would end up licensing the brand from Jack Lake Productions to create brand new titles in the mid 2000s with Papercutz. Jones would close out his updated research with a look at fanzines devoted to collecting any and everything Gilberton and the fans that collect it.

Classics Illustrated: A Cultural History is 381 pages long. However, only about 300 pages are what I would determine to be readable. There are over 50 pages of appendices that read like the Dewey decimal system. What can you expect from a series of 170 comics that were collectively reprinted nearly 1,400 times! 

The binding for this book is similar to a college textbook. Add in appendix A-J, extensive chapter notes that were cross-referenced and perhaps the largest index on comic book history and you've got a reference book that comic book historians will salivate over. Almost a balanced look at Gilberton, warts and all. A little bit of the commentary does dote too far over the complaints and praise on multiple aspects of the books chronicled over the years from fans collective. Otherwise, this would be a required reading for any History of Sequential Arts course.

Completing this review completes Task #50 (Prose non-fiction about comic book history) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Shang-Chi and the Quest for Immortality (Family Comic Friday)

Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung-Fu is a Marvel character that is more aligned with mature readership than a figure of all-ages family fun. Created in the 1970s as Marvel's answer to the martial arts film craze brought about by the influences of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, Shang-Chi originally was the son of the global 'yellow menace' known as Fu-Manchu. Over time, the
controversial antagonist was replaced with a figure whose origin wasn't encased with a legacy of East Asian prejudices and hate. Shang-Chi's rebooted father, Zheng-Zu was no less evil or power hungry. Even more, he still wasn't a character for children as the leader of the Five Weapons Society was a gangster who had his hands in some very adult criminal activities such as gun running, human trafficking, and drugs.

Of course with the live action Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Marvel wanted to produce a kid friendly graphic novel to introduce the characters to a broader audience. To do this, creator Victoria Ying set the story during Shang-Chi's childhood. Yes, Shang-Chi's father is still a heartless criminal leader who rewards loyalty over issuing parental love. Only now he's more of a passive character in which the young hero lives in the shadow of his father's approval. 

Ying makes another wise move by having the story focus more on the mythology of Shang-Chi's world as opposed to the dark criminal elements. In this book, Shang-Chi is on a quest to find a magical orchard that fruits could heal the boy's ailing father. In the midst of Shang-Chi's journey, he meets a mysterious hooded man who claims to be Shang-Chi's brother and the protector of other offspring who have been deemed unworthy of inheriting Zheng-Zu's criminal enterprise.

This graphic novel is a decent prequel to 2021's Shang-Chi motion picture. It opens Shang-Chi's eyes to his father's dark nature while also authenticating the myths of ancient China into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The story also shows how you can love someone even when they are imperfect, even when that nature is extremely vile.

Cruel parents seems to be a universal theme. Snow White, Cinderella, even The Simpsons show that parents are people too. And that means flaws. It's a complicated process to love someone who is supposed to love you back and yet sometimes in return mothers and fathers aren't capable of such kindness. Thus if this story opens up questions about parental abuse or neglect, it's my hope that parents and guardians are willing and equipped to address such complicated inquiries. Though I think the recommended age of 8-12 might be a bit too immature. 10-14 might be more appropriate.

A read that potentially could open many doors. Not just to some complex family ethics, but also to Chinese culture. The artwork is highly indicative of modern and classic Oriental styles. Plus, young readers are introduced to new characters that have entertained millions of Chinese children for millennia. If you are going to show Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings to your family, this book could act as a good introduction to many of the characters as well as be a great follow up to a reader interested in learning the rest of the story.

I really thought this book was older than its 2023 publication date. It might have been due to come out when the movie did but was delayed due to COVID. But a 2 year hiatus? The book has a preview for a Ms. Marvel graphic novel I read and reviewed a long time ago. So maybe it was due to come out in 2021. Not sure. But it shouldn't interfere with the enjoyment of this book.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

School Judgment: Gakkyu Hotei, Vol. 1 (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

The judicial satire Manga School Judgment: Gakkyu Hotei was originally deemed not good enough for print. The editors of Shonen Jump felt that the premise of elementary schools becoming the new frontier of a court of law was too one-note. Editors were also not very impressed with the art of creator Nobuaki Enoki, calling it 'lacking'. Yet, the publisher's new online Manga app Jump LIVE, now Shonen Jump+, needed new material. With a new artist added to the project Hikaru no Go's Takeshi Obata, Enoki was reinvigorated and a second draft was quickly worked up.

In 2013, Gakkyu Hotei debuted on phones across Japan and the world. The first case on the docket 'The Suzuki Murder and Dismemberment Case', sees the diminutive Tento Nanahoshi on trail for the violent death of homeroom 6-3's mascot, a fish name Suzuki. For the defense is 12-year old Abaku Inugami, a lover of video games who will 'ronpa (Japanese for break, tear, destroy) the hell out of' anyone who persecutes his clients unjustly. The prosecutor is Pine Hanzuki, who may look like a typical sweet and innocent Gyaru glam girl. But inside her lurks the heart of a fearless hunter!

Originally intended to be only 10 chapters long, the series was soon rebranded in a serialized form in the pages of Weekly Shonen Jump in 2014. Reaching its climatic 24th chapter, Gakkyu Hotei went into permanent recess in the summer of 2015. English audiences were introduced to the complete series divided into 3 volumes the following year. 

School Judgment: Gakkyu Hotei is something rare to a non-Manga fan such as myself. It was enjoyable! With its storyline divided up in ways where readers can solve the mystery alongside Abaku and Pine, these cases read like a Japanese version of Ellery Queen. Plus, there's the added mystery of Abaku Inugami's troubled past which plays out throughout the entire story. Years prior, he was present during a classroom massacre which led to the judicial reforms that turned elementary schools into courts of law. His journey as a travelling solicitor has brought him Tenbin Elementary, where Abaku plans to stay and kill the student who slaughtered his former classmates.

Completing this review completes Task #10 (A Manga Work) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Super Powers Which Way Book #2: Supergirl, The Girl of Steel

Growing up, I loved those Choose Your Own Adventure books. Being given the chance to be your own director and guide was such a novel idea that I fell in love with. It's a genre of book, that if I find a comic or graphic novel that follows the Choose Your Own Adventure format, I will read it and review it.

I'm also a member of a Facebook group devoted to Kenner's Super Powers lineup. It's where I discovered the existence of this book. From 1984, this novel dropped during an important time for the Maid of Might. Supergirl was set to take the world by storm with a live action film starring Helen Slater. Unknown to fans, the existence of Supergirl in the DC Universe hindered on the success of the film. Unfortunately, it was a flop. Thus, the axe fell on Superman's cousin, resulting in her death in Crisis on Infinite Earths #7. Also on the chopping block was Kara Zor-El's inclusion in the Super Powers toy line.

This interactive novel debuted a year after book #1 starring the Man of Steel did. A Wonder Woman and a Darkseid heavy Justice League volume were both slated to join the lineup. Later in the year, fans got to control the JLA's fate against the New God despot. Batman was given the CYOA treatment in 1986. Ultimately, Wonder Woman's adventure never came about.

With this Supergirl time, there are essentially 4 main story lines that readers can explore:

Direction A: Resist or assist Mr. Mxyzptlk in a 5th dimension contest of strength.

Direction B: Research the days of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table for a school project by going back in time.

Direction C: Save Superman from the clutches of Brainiac.

Direction D: Escape From the Land of Oz after being transported into the pages of L. Frank Baum's masterpiece due to a mad scientist!

There's also a minor 5th plotline where Supergirl remains in her secret identity of Linda Danvers and helps a classmate struggling with math.

One peeve I had with 'select your fate' books would be if you made a wrong turn and the story ends after literally only making 3 or 4 choices. This time around, I made sure that I would explore as many story lines as possible. The cover to this book informs you of the 4 main paths to take Supergirl. You'll have to dig to find that secret identity plot and there could be more. I dug deep. But maybe I didn't hit the absolute bottom line of material available.

I liked that Supergirl battles traditional villains such as Brainiac and Mxyzptlk. I'm torn over the inclusion of Superman. He's only in 1 plotline. Yes, I'm more than aware how much the Kryptonian cousins fared in each other's titles. But did Supergirl guest in Superman's book? Or did writer Andrew Helfer or this book's editor lose faith that the Girl of Steel could lead the book on her own?

I enjoyed the heck out of this book. Now I've got to figure out a way to display it in my office because this is going into my Supergirl collection!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.